Design Hires Podcast: Recent Episodes

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Tom McCormack is a human centered career coach and fellow podcast host of Work Ethics. In this episode, Nadia and Tom discuss weighty topics like the ethics surrounding the impact and regulation of AI, how to approach ethics questions around the work you’re doing, and how to figure out if a potential employer is ethically aligned with your values and beliefs.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 1:00 : Considerations around AI ethics & regulation
• 18:00 : How AI will impact the design industry and careers
• 33:00 : The ethics of designing products that automate jobs & how to address those kinds of questions in your workplace
• 44:00 : Trusting your gut: how to discover if there is ethical alignment between you and a future employer

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Tom's LinkedIn Profile
• Work Ethics Podcast
• Disconnect Newsletter by Paris Marx
• Ezra Klein Show Podcast Episode: How China Went From Economic Superstar to Faltering Giant

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Radu Vucea is a seasoned design leader & mentor. After spending much of his career working in design for large organizations like Adobe and Fitbit, Radu pivoted to founding his own design studio, Ixperi, as well as his own bootcamp training & mentorship program, Mento Design Academy. In this episode, you’ll learn about Radu’s career trajectory, why he became a founder, and more.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 1:00 : Radu’s background, career trajectory, and what he is currently working on
• 7:00 : The management style at Radu’s design studio, Ixperi
• 11:00 : Operating with trust as a design manager, and how Radu approaches hiring
• 25:00 : How Radu went from a design leader to owning & running his own design businesses
• 39:00 : Radu’s bootcamp program, Mento Design Academy, how it started, and who it serves
• 50:00 : How to learn more & get in touch with Radu, Ixperi, Mento Design Academy

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Ixperi Design Studio
• Mento Design Academy
• Radu’s LinkedIn Profile

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Jonah McLachlan, Producer & Mentor of the UX Energy Mentoring podcast, newsletter, & mentoring platform, joins us on today’s episode. Nadia and Jonah talk all about managers in this episode - how to work well together, make sure you’re getting the most out of your managers, and the most important qualities to look for in your next manager.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 1:00 : The impact of good managers on employee happiness and turnover
• 7:00 : How to help your manager manage you well in your job and the impact of diversity and inclusion on management tactics
• 17:00 : Trust & openness as cornerstones of management
• 27:00 : The give and take of manager/employee recognition and empowerment
• 34:00 : How to get in touch with Jonah

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Jonah's LinkedIn Profile
• Jonah’s Twitter
• UX Energy Mentoring
• Good Boss vs. Bad Boss Infographic
• Book: How to Win Friends and Influence People by dale Carnegie

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Formerly a teacher, Sam Daugherty fell into the design world by accident and is now a Senior Designer at a FinTech company. In this episode, you’ll hear about his career journey, how he thinks about hiring and developing early career designers, balancing work and personal life, and much more.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 0:00 : Letting your personality shine through
• 5:00 : What Sam’s been up to recently & how he got into design
• 12:00 : Teaching early career designers to communicate with engineers & stakeholders
• 25:30 : Hiring for team and personality fit vs. hard skills
• 28:00 : Hiring for cultural diversity and neurodiversity
• 40:00 : What qualities Sam & Nadia look for when hiring early designers
• 51:00 : Convincing hiring managers that you don’t need to hire senior designers for every role
• 58:00 : Acknowledging that design is hard work, but there are some pretty great benefits to the flexibility you have in many design roles

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Sam’s LinkedIn Profile
• Sam's Portfolio Site
• Behind the Bastards Podcast
• A Bit of Optimism Podcast

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Following up on our previous conversation about inclusive hiring practices for neurodivergent candidates, Sam Daugherty joins us as a special guest host interviewing Paul Radliff. Paul is a Digital UX & Design Leader with years of experience both hiring for his teams and going through the recruitment process at other organizations.

During this conversation, Sam and Paul chat about how to create an effective and inclusive hiring environment, while also advocating for the unique place of design within your organization.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 0:01 : An introduction to Sam and Paul & their backgrounds
• 4:00 : How to create an inclusive hiring environment for neurodiverse or introverted individuals
• 12:00 : Hiring entry level designers who may not have fully honed their technical skills
• 16:00 : Finding the root cause of hiring process challenges & the place of design within an organization
• 31:00 : Sam & Paul’s thoughts on creating an effective design hiring process
• 40:00 : Making accommodations for candidates before, during, and after interviews
• 58:00 : Closing thoughts & how to get in touch with Sam & Paul

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Paul's Portfolio Site
• Paul's LinkedIn Profile
• Sam’s LinkedIn Profile
• Sam's Portfolio Site

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Marc Fonteijn is a veteran service designer who co-founded the first service design studio in the Netherlands. His passion for all things service design inspired him to start his own podcast, the Service Design Show. The podcast has quickly grown into a community and resource hub for those who are looking for careers in service design. In this episode, Nadia and Marc chat about what service design is and how to articulate the value of service design to your organization’s leadership, your team, and more.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 0:01 : A little bit about Marc and what service design is
• 8:30 : Making a case for the value of service design
• 15:30 : How to learn more about service design and get your team to engage with the concept of service design
• 21:00 : Understanding the financial value of the design work you’re doing
• 31:00 : Getting your team to adopt a more service-oriented mindset
• 34:00 : How to get in touch with Marc

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Marc’s LinkedIn Profile
• The Service Design Show
• The Circle Professional Learning Community
• Marc’s YouTube Channel
• ServiceDesignJobs.com

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Corey Nelson has worn many hats - UX design lead, manager, career coach, podcast host, teacher, and more. In this candid conversion, Corey and Nadia chat about merit increases and performance ratings, being a manager to others, and creating support systems for yourself on your career journey.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 0:01 : AI Photoshopping and honesty vs. being mean
• 7:00 : What’s new with Corey & his move to Tulsa
• 11:00 : Design therapy & support systems
• 15:00 : Dissecting merit increase and performance review ratings and conversations
• 24:00 : Your responsibilities to your team as a manager
• 36:00 : What’s up next for Corey & how to get in touch

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Corey’s LinkedIn Profile
• Corey’s Career Coaching Business, UX Design Job
• Subscribe to the UX Design Job Newsletter by Corey Nelson
• The UX+1 Podcast
• Corey’s Masterclass, UX Advanced Individual Training
• Design Hires’ Side Hustle Summit

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Mitchell Clements, a Sr. Product Design Manager at Simple Nexus, chats with Nadia about how he has approached social media as a tool to grow your network in an impactful way. This discussion delves into the best ways to ask for help or mentorship on social media, how to find strong mentorship early in a design career, and online vs. in-person networking.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 0:01 : Building a presence on social media to grow your network as a hiring manager
• 8:15 : The cultural shift toward networking online vs. networking in person
• 14:30 : How having an online presence has positively impacted Mitchell’s personal career
• 20:00 : The importance of finding strong mentorship relationships for accelerating design career growth and how to ask for help finding it
• 35:30 : How to get in touch with Mitchell, and the best way to make an ask via social media

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Mitchell’s LinkedIn Profile
• Mitchell’s Twitter Profile
• Mitchell’s Website

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In today’s episode, we chat with Chad Johnson, a Principal Product Designer at OJO. Chad co-founded his own real estate software company, Digs, and managed to sell it to OJO in funding rounds and make the transition from founder to full time employee. You’ll hear about the lessons and discoveries that Chad made along the way, as well as Chad’s passion for helping designers realize their entrepreneurial streak.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 1:00 : How Chad decided to start his own business, Digs, and how he scaled that business
• 12:00 : Hiring engineers as a non-technical founder
• 15:00 : How Chad sold Digs to OJO during the pandemic, and the transition from founder to employee
• 21:30: Chad’s current side gig - his personal brand
• 25:35 : What’s on the horizon for OJO and Chad
• 28:00 : How to get in touch with Chad and learn more

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Chad’s LinkedIn Profile
• Sign up for Chad’s newsletter
• OJO Website
• Digs, the company Chad previously founded that was acquired by OJO in 2020. See below for links to pr about the acquisition:
• https://www.inman.com/2020/10/15/ojo-labs-acquires-fintech-startup-digs/
• https://www.housingwire.com/articles/ojo-labs-acquires-personal-finance-platform-digs/
• https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/ojo-labs-ranks-no-49-110000943.html
• https://www.builtinaustin.com/2020/10/15/ojo-labs-acquires-digs-hiring-growth

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John Lovig is a Design Recruiter at TDA Creative, a global design, technology, product, and data staffing agency. In this insightful conversation, John and Nadia discuss the ins and outs of transitioning into a design leadership role, how to navigate titles and position leveling for your experience, and how John builds relationships with candidates who he is working with, as well as clients.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 0:01 : The current state of the design hiring market
• 4:40: Transitioning from a senior design position to a leadership or management role
• 7:30 : Leadership Portfolios
• 10:00 : Navigating the confusing structure of design position leveling & role titles
• 17:00 : Ageism in the design industry and leveraging the wisdom of more experienced designers
• 22:00 : How John builds relationships with his clients & candidates and works with them
• 30:00 : Startups vs. enterprise design
• 39:00 : How to get in touch with John and roles that he hires for

Links mentioned in this episode:

• John’s LinkedIn Profile
• Talent Driven Agency (TDA Creative)

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Trigger Warning: Mention of suicidal ideation occurring from 45:46-48:17. Please take care of yourself, and if you need to, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help. Resources can be found at SAMHSA.gov.

In today’s episode, we chat with Tommy Geoco, a U.S. Marine turned designer and startup founder. Tommy shares his insights and experiences with finding the right work-life balance, entrepreneurship as a designer, and giving back to your community. We also discuss protecting your mental health while participating in hussle culture and how identity and profession interconnect.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 0:01 : Creating community for designers
• 4:00: The future of the creator space
• 7:30 : Tommy’s career trajectory and journey into design roles
• 17:00 : Lessons learned as a first time founder
• 21:00 : Protecting your mental health and hustle culture
• 26:00 : Work-life balance & tying your identity to your profession
• 43:30 : Being open & authentic on social media
• 47:00 : What’s coming up next for Tommy & how to get in touch

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Tommy’s Book, Making Design Decisions
• Tommy’s LinkedIn Profile

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Our friends Colton & Ludovic join Design Hires for a second episode! The co-founders of Kickass UX, a program that offers UX education tailored specifically to creatives, give us an update on how far they’ve come since last year, why now is the best time to up your design skills, and what’s coming up in the future.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 0:01 : Redesign & rebrand of Kickass UX
• 11:00 : What’s coming up next for Kickass UX, and the vision for expansion
• 16:30 : Why NOW is the best time in the job market to improve your design skills
• 23:00 : Creating a more sustainable future for Kickass UX & fostering a good relationship with a co-founder
• 36:00 : Colton & Ludovic’s 5 year plan

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Kickass UX Website
• Colton Schweitzer’s LinkedIn Profile
• Ludovic Delmas’ LinkedIn Profile
• Design Hires’ Previous Episode with Colton & Ludovic
• Book: The 10x Rule by Grant Cardone
• Kickass UX Partnership: Tech Fleet Community DAO

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Andy Vitale is deeply immersed in the design world as a design leader at Rocket Companies, a professor of UX Design at Kent State, a public speaker, and co-host of Surfacing Podcast. In this episode, Andy shares his experience working in a design leadership role, the lessons he has learned along the way, and design opportunities that his team is currently hiring for.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 0:00 : Intern program & recruiting process at Rocket Companies
• 5:00 : Andy’s design leadership style & opportunities he is working on
• 17:30 : Working with an executive coach and how Andy helps guide senior designers into their next career step
• 22:30 : Andy’s experience speaking at conferences and what topics he is most interested in talking about
• 26:30 : The most important things someone should learn as they transition into a design leadership role
• 32:30 : What Andy has coming up in 2023
• 38:00 : Current roles Rocket is hiring for and how to learn more

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Book: Managing Chaos by Lisa Walshman
• Surfacing Podcast hosted by Andy Vitale and Lisa Welchman
• Rocket’s Design Careers Page
• Rocket Companies on LinkedIn
• Andy’s LinkedIn Profile
• Andy’s Website

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Brian OKelley is the Founder, President, and Chief Strategist at Futuredraft, an innovative product design agency that centers its work around problem solving. A problem solver by nature, Brian and Nadia discuss how to help stakeholders and leaders better understand the value of emerging technologies, creativity in roadmapping, finding mentors to grow your career, how to overcome differences of opinion through testing & validating ideas, and so much more.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 0:01 : Web3 and design
• 10:00 : How to sell stakeholders & leadership on emerging technologies
• 12:30 : The creative nature of roadmapping and vision work in design
• 21:00 : Having passion to solve problems as an early designer & the value of gaining experience
• 29:00 : The importance of having mentors throughout your career & how to find them
• 35:30 : Validating ideas as a means of solving problems or overcoming disagreements
• 44:30 : The future of IT culture & service-based architecture
• 49:00 : Finding ways to connect with other designers
• 54:30 : How to get in touch with Brian

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Brian’s LinkedIn Profile
• Futuredraft Website
• Brian’s Email

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Morgan Denner, founder of Tech Fleet, joins us again for a follow up conversation about failing forward, overcoming the fear of allowing others to fail, and what’s in store for Tech Fleet in 2023 and beyond.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 0:20 : Picking up from our previous conversation: overcoming the fear of allowing others to fail
• 10:00 : How failure as a learning moment plays out at Tech Fleet
• 11:00 : Coaching vs. constrictive management styles
• 12:45 : What’s new at Tech Fleet in 2023
• 14:00 : How Tech Fleet works
• 23:00 : How Tech Fleet decides upon growth & development
• 27:00 : How the design community can support Tech Fleet
• 31:00 : Tech Fleet’s sustainability model & the future

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Tech Fleet Website
• Medium Article: Beans and Noses by Jared Spool
• Medium Article: Introducing the Tech Fleet Community DAO by Morgan Denner
• Morgan’s LinkedIn Profile

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Thought leader & design innovator David Butler has spent years translating design into business strategy and vice-versa. With deep experience in helping organizations move from Web 1 to Web 2, David has worked with some pretty major companies. Hear David’s career story, his thoughts around using design to create transformative shifts in your organization, and learn about what he is currently working on in his own entrepreneurial ventures.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 0:01 : David’s career journey
• 6:30 : Designing with a capital, “D”
• 12:30 : Creating a framework for innovation & system design
• 15:00 : David’s book, Design to Grow: How Coca-Cola Learned to Combine Scale and Agility (and How You Can Too)
• 17:00 : The decision to move from working at large scale organizations to starting an agency
• 29:00 : What characteristics David looks for when hiring new designers & career guidance for designers
• 33:30 : David’s new business for design leaders, Veep

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Book: Design to Grow by David Butler
• David’s LinkedIn Profile
• David's Design Agency, SoWhat
• FastCompany Article: Masters Of Design 2009: Why Coke’s David Butler Is The Real Thing

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Bill Kurland, a Lead Content Designer, takes us through his career journey and the things that have shaped him along the way. Nadia and Bill talk about everything - from forming a UX-themed band to the importance of investing in people. Check out this inspiring and funny conversation to learn more!

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 0:01 : Bill’s journey from music to design
• 9:30 : Defining your personal brand and finding community
• 19:00 : Content design as a form of creative exploration
• 23:15 : What Bill is currently working on & how he spends his free time
• 34:00 : How being a manager has changed Bill’s mindset
• 45:30 : How to get in touch with Bill

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Bill’s LinkedIn Profile
• Bill’s Portfolio Site

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Chris Shepard is a co-founder of Wisiwig, a brand new no-code UI development platform. In this episode, we learn about Chris’ career journey from designer to startup founder, what’s in store next for Wisiwig, and lessons learned along the way.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 0:20 : An intro to Chris, Wisiwig, and the transition from design to building a startup
• 6:30 : Chris’ experience with the accelerator application process
• 14:15 : Wisiwig’s goals for 2023
• 18:30 : How to decide on when to get feedback from users
• 23:20 : What Chris will look for in future hires at his startup
• 32:10 : What made now a good time to found a company for Chris
• 37:00 : How to learn more about Wisiwig & get in touch with Chris

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Chris Shepard’s LinkedIn
• Wisiwig Website
• Wisiwig for Chrome
• Wisiwig Slack Community
• 5 Tips for Landing Your First UX Design Role
• MassChallenge Accelerator
• Wisiwig on Twitter
• Wisiwig on LinkedIn

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Elena Haskins, founder of Cipher Studio and Anele Product Design shares her experience with being a relatively new designer and founding her own businesses early on in her design career. Hear Elena’s wisdom about leadership opportunities for junior designers, apprenticeship opportunities, time management, and much more. Elena also discusses how to get involved in her mentorship program through Anele.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 0:01 : Starting an agency as a designer & the apprenticeship models of the future
• 3:25 : How to know what to pay junior designers and giving feedback
• 11:00 : Time management while owning your own business
• 16:00 : Learning & reusing tactics from past projects and teams
• 19:00 : Leadership and management opportunities early in your design career
• 24:50 : Advice for designers considering starting a design business
• 30:02 : How Elena assesses designers who she is looking to hire
• 35:00 : How to get involved & in touch with Elena
• 38:00 : How to set your expectations around bootcamps & setting yourself up for success
• 47:00 : Spotting good & bad UX as a designer

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Elena's LinkedIn Profile
• Anele Website
• Anele Resources for Junior UX Designers
• Converge Guide

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Dan Mall wears many hats - he is a designer, teacher, author, entrepreneur, father, and much more. In this episode, Dan and Nadia discuss different design leadership theories such as how to create psychological safety for yourself and your team, decision making, and how and when to form design principles.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 0:30 : What lead Dan to start his own agency and then pivot to his newest venture, Dan Mall Teaches
• 6:00 : The importance of pricing in design
• 8:30 : Decision making & choosing between a lot of good options
• 13:00 : Giving people permission to try things and do their best work
• 18:15 : Creating personal psychological safety through taking risks
• 24:00 : Finding balance while working multiple design jobs
• 28:00 : Managing/Coaching people for their next job
• 34:00 : Forming your own design philosophies & principles
• 41:30 : How to get in touch with Dan

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Dan’s Website
• Dan’s Book: Pricing Design
• Book: The Decision Book: 50 Models for Strategic Thinking
• Book: How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk
• Dan’s Twitter
• Dan’s Instagram
• Dan’s LinkedIn
• Dan’s YouTube Page

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Mark Reilly is an Executive Director of UX at JP Morgan Chase. In this interview you’ll learn about Chase’s expansive design team, the qualities that Mark looks for when hiring designers, open roles, and other amazing opportunities for career growth within the organization.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 1:00 : Mark’s role and his team at Chase
• 8:00 : Open roles at Chase and the Design Development Program
• 17:00 : How to learn more about open design roles at Chase
• 21:00 : Skills and experiences that make candidates stand out during the hiring process
• 31:00 : Interview process at Chase
• 33:00 : Chase’s structure for career advancement & promotion on the design team
• 42:00 : Closing thoughts & why Chase is a great company to work for as a designer

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Mark’s LinkedIn Profile
• Peter Merholz's Book: Org Design for Design Orgs: Building and Managing In-House Teams
• Tom Greever's Book: Articulating Design Decisions
• Design Hires Podcast: Peter Merholz
• Design Hires Podcast: Tom Greever
• Finding Our Way Podcast: 32 Kaaren Hanson - The Intentional Design Executive
• Finding Our Way Podcast: 24 Jorge Arango - Delving into digital design—craft, teaching, lessons from architecture, standards and certification
• Chase Careers Site: Roles Filtered by Design
• Design Development Program

Open Roles on Mark's Team

• Lead Product Designer - Chase Wealth Management — NYC

Open Roles on Sister Teams in Wealth Management

• Product Design Lead – Design Systems — NYC or NJ
• Senior Product Designer — NYC or NJ
• Sr. User Experience Designer — NYC, Tempe AZ or Plano, TX
• User Experience Design Lead — Plano, TX

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This inspirational conversation with Design Leader, James Lacey covers everything from imposter syndrome, stereotypes in design, the place of creative backgrounds in UX design and so much more. Discover the most important skills and attributes to possess as a designer through James & Nadia’s discussion as they chat about the collective wisdom they’ve gained from 10+ years in the design industry.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 1:00 : Siri & Apple Music Design ideas
• 7:30 : Stereotypes of designers & imposter syndrome
• 10:00 : James’ background and career pathway
• 24:02 : The entrepreneurial “itch” and the tenacity required for being self-taught
• 28:31 : Synthesizing information as a skill in design
• 35:26 : Having a creative background as a designer & formal design training
• 45:30 : Why senior designers frequently leave traditional careers and promotional cycles for consulting gigs
• 51:00 : Bringing impactful functionality to the table as a designer instead of aesthetic
• 1:01:00 : How to get in touch with James

Links mentioned in this episode:

• James’ LinkedIn Profile

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Lennart Nacke is a professor at the University of Waterloo who specializes in gamification and UX Design. Nadia’s interview with him explores the differences between traditional game design and UX gamification, the profile and attributes of a UX game designer, and tips on how to effectively incorporate game elements into UX design.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 1:00 : What Lennart has been working on recently
• 5:00 : The differences between traditional game design and UX game design
• 16:02 : Faux gamification in digital products & gamification tips for designers
• 25:50 : Incorporating gamification into design across different demographics
• 34:42 : Lennart’s upcoming classes & speaking engagements
• 36:11 : How to get in touch with Lennart

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Book: Punished by Rewards by Alfie Cohen
• Book: The Grasshopper by Bernard Suits
• Toronto Change Days Event Website
• Lennart’s LinkedIn Profile
• Lennart’s Website, Acagamic.com
• Lennart’s Twitter Profile
• Lennart's YouTube Channel
• How to Write CHI Papers Podcast
• Games User Research Book Podcast

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Author & Product/Design Leader Tom Greever chats with Nadia about how creating fun moments at work can boost productivity and help you better communicate during presentations and meetings. You’ll also hear about what Tom looks for when hiring designers, his experience after publishing his book, Articulating Design Decisions, and more.

Inspired by wearing costumes at work (just listen to the episode), we are also happy to announce the #CostumeBattleRoyale challenge:

• Lead a meeting in a costume & tag the following accounts on LinkedIn or Twitter: #costumebattleroyale + @designhirespodcast (LinkedIn) / @designhirespod (Twitter) + @tomgreever
• A picture of yourself presenting at a meeting in costume
• The profile of the audience you were presenting to (i.e., Executives, my team members, etc.)

• Tell us whether your costume was effective or not, and if not, why and what you would have done differently.

• Honorary category: Tell us a story about how you've brought more attention and engagement to your work through creative means (other than wearing a costume)!

Prize for top 3 costumes/stories: A copy of Tom Greever’s Book, Articulating Design Decisions

• Start Date: Friday, November 4th
• End Date: Friday, November 18th
• Winners Announced: Tuesday, November 22nd

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 1:00 : Costumes & being a “fun” design manager
• 11:27 : Putting team members at ease to drive productivity
• 14:48 : Engaging your audience during presentations and meetings
• 18:30 : How to discern a candidate who can articulate design decisions during the hiring process
• 21:15 : Tom’s experience after writing his book, Articulating Design Decisions
• 26:30 : What Tom looks for when he is hiring designers
• 31:00 : Bringing it back around to costumes & #CostumeBattleRoyale

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Tom’s Book: Articulating Design Decisions
• Tom’s LinkedIn

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In this episode we are joined by Andrew Hogan, a member of the Insights & Analysis team at Figma. Andrew talks about his recent research that analyzes why it is so difficult for organizations to attract and hire design talent. Nadia and Andrew discuss the importance of sending the right cultural signals to attract the candidates who will best succeed in your organization, and how candidates can assess culture to understand if a company is right for them.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 1:00 : The importance of publishing content publicly as a hiring manager for design roles
• 8:22 : Andrew’s research process for assessing design culture & hiring
• 18:24 : Company culture vs. team culture - which is more important?
• 23:07 : What signals job candidates can look for to gauge if a company is right for them
• 30:02 : Sending authentic & better signals to candidates about your design culture
• 35:50 : The difference between organizational maturity and culture
• 41:08 : What future research projects we should be looking for from Andrew & Figma
• 48:20 : How to get in touch with Andrew and learn more about what he’s doing

Links mentioned in this episode:

• The outsized role culture plays in attracting design talent by Andrew Hogan
• Design Hiring in 2022 - Elevating culture to attract the right talent
• What Makes Collaboration Click? - Cristin Torrey (Config 2022)
• Andrew’s LinkedIn Profile

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What is the secret recipe for negotiating the salary you want? In this episode, recruiter Jackie Velasquez-Ross shares the different types of information you can harness during a salary negotiation process to ultimately achieve the life you want to live.

Jackie and Nadia do a mock salary negotiation coaching session, share fun stories, and provide empowering advice to those actively negotiating during an offer process.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 1:00 : Jackie’s career story and how she learned about negotiations during the job offer process
• 4:00 : Knowing what variables make up salary bands at different companies
• 13:17 : Sample career coaching session with Nadia
• 27:03 : Student loans and education as a factor of your salary
• 34:16 : Talking openly and transparently about money & salary
• 40:00 : How to communicate with recruiters during the negotiation process
• 49:01 : Knowing what you want and grounding your desired salary in that knowledge

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Jackie's Website
• Negotiating Your Worth Website
• Jackie’s LinkedIn Profile

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In this episode, Nadia chats with Amos Wagon, the Head of Core Platform UX at Twilio. Learn how the landscape has shifted recently for growth companies and the amazing work that Twilio has done by evangelizing the role of design in their organization. Amos also discusses what he looks for in candidates that he interviews.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 0:54 : Amos’ background and role at Twilio
• 2:57 : How the landscape has shifted recently for growth companies
• 10:27 : What Amos looks for in candidates that he hires
• 12:16 : Which questions candidates should ask hiring managers during interviews
• 15:56 : The structure of Twilio’s design team
• 17:20 : The role of strategic thinking & product influencers on a design team
• 22:44 : Career development at Twilio
• 26:49 : The value of UX in enterprise products & evangelizing UX
• 36:44 : Design roles currently open at Twilio

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Twilio Website
• Twilio Careers Page
• Amos Wagon’s LinkedIn Profile

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Lena Kul is the lead recruiter at Miro, building their design and UXR teams in their Berlin and Amsterdam hubs. Miro’s unique approach to infusing design into the company culture and its products makes it an incredible company for designers at all levels.

Join us to hear about the hiring process at Miro, what Lena looks for in design candidates, open opportunities, Miro’s culture of design, and how to apply for roles with Miro.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 0:00 : Lena’s role at Miro and her career background
• 2:00 : How hiring for design roles is different than other types of recruiting
• 8:30 : What Lena looks for in design candidates for roles at Miro
• 12:36 : The interview process at Miro
• 17:04 : How Lena assesses mid-senior level designers for future career tracks
• 20:05 : The culture of design at Miro
• 23:25 : Open roles at Miro
• 27:40 : How to get in touch with Lena

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Miro’s Design Website
• Miro’s Careers Page
• Lena’s LinkedIn Profile

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Jack Moffett is a UX manager in Boeing Global Services’ Customer Experience team where he is supporting DesignOps efforts for Training Solutions and Digital Aviation Solutions, building a UX training program, and managing a CX metrics team.

In this episode, Jack and Nadia talk about Jack’s latest experience reviewing applications for open roles at Boeing, what he looks for in designers, and how early career designers can set themselves apart while applying for jobs.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 0:00 : What Jack is seeing as he reviews resumes for junior design positions
• 10:00 : What Jack’s team at Boeing is currently working on and the structure of his team
• 12:15 : Choosing between a large organization or startup environment as a junior designer
• 21:00 : What experience Jack is looking for and how to develop yourself as a junior designer with little experience
• 31:15 : Roles that are currently open on Jack’s team
• 32:48 : The SAFe Agile framework
• 37:00 : The hiring process at Boeing and Boeing’s career pathway framework for designers
• 45:00 : How to get in touch with Jack

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Jack’s LinkedIn Profile
• Boeing’s Careers Site
• https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/3271349771
• https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/3271347978
• designaday.tumblr.com

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Shipra Kayan is a Product Evangelist and Facilitator who specializes in facilitating design meetings. Learn some of her tips and tricks for facilitating meetings that achieve the desired outcomes, how Shipra got into facilitation, and what it means to be a Product Evangelist at Miro.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 0:22 : What it means to be a Facilitator, and the process for facilitating meetings
• 7:21 : How to decide who should be in a meeting to achieve desired outcomes
• 12:44 : Shipra’s facilitation strategies for helping meetings come to an end with a decision or next steps
• 17:29 : How to upwardly manage senior/VP decision makers during a meeting
• 23:09 : How Shipra connects with companies to be a Facilitator, and what she does as a Product Evangelist
• 26:40 : Shipra’s advice for getting into design facilitation roles
• 31:32 : Shipra’s design course with Bentley University
• 33:10 : How to get in touch with Shipra

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Shipra’s LinkedIn Profile
• UX Training Programs at Bentley University
• Miro’s Website

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As a veteran UX Designer, Author, Professor, Podcast Host, and much more, Darren Hood has experienced so many facets of the design world in his 26+ year career. In this episode, you’ll hear about his journey, what motivates him, advice to other UXers, and some excellent sports analogies along the way. You’ll also get a sneak preview of an exciting upcoming project that Darren is working on.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 1:00 : What motivates Darren, and how he discovered the importance of “healthy friction” & self awareness
• 10:46 : Hiring the right level of experience for your team
• 13:37 : Cronyism vs. leveraging connections
• 15:32 : Red flags during interviews and how to know if an organization is right for you
• 19:39 : Senior design leadership opportunities, and why senior designers choose consulting instead
• 26:28 : Toxic positivity & accepting feedback/criticism
• 40:45 : The rise of UX influencers on social media
• 46:16 : Standardized accreditation & licensure in the UX industry

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Article: Toxic Positivity & the Decline of UX
• Darren’s Podcast: The World of UX with Darren Hood
• Darren’s LinkedIn Profile

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Khrystyna Oros Ryan and Samaya Sinha met at a toxic job and bonded over shared values. After nearly a decade of supporting each other through various job changes and challenges, they realized that they wanted to build a community to provide that same level of support to other women. Thus, Ideate Labs was born. Ideate Labs aims to make UX & UI design accessible to women, immigrants, and people of color.

Check out this amazing conversation where Khrystyna, Samaya, and Nadia discuss salary transparency, job search pain points amongst new designers, and how to get involved with Ideate Labs.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 0:01 : Khrystyna’s “Aha!” moment around salary transparency
• 8:33 : How Ideate Labs coaches students around asking for more money during an offer process
• 12:20 : Lessons learned in past interviews & favorite stories
• 19:00 : Who Ideate Labs serves and what problems they’re solving
• 21:14 : Balancing running Ideate Labs while also doing other jobs & the evolution of Ideate Labs
• 28:20 : What is the profile of a successful Ideate Labs student?
• 34:21 : How to learn more about Ideate Labs and get involved
• 36:51: Patterns in job search pain points for early career designers and the future of the UX industry

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Ideate Labs’ Website
• Ideate Labs’ YouTube Channel
• Khrystyna Oros Ryan’s LinkedIn Profile
• Samaya Sinha’s LinkedIn Profile

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Morgan Denner founded Tech Fleet, an apprenticeship agency and open-source design community, as a way to give design newbies a chance to test their skills and reduce inequities in the design world at large. Tech Fleet provides real-world, practical experiences to help people better understand what it’s like to work on a design team in an Agile environment.

In this episode, learn what Morgan and Tech Fleet are currently working on, how the Tech Fleet community is structured, and how you can get involved in opportunities with Tech Fleet.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 00:01 : What Morgan’s working on at Tech Fleet and what Tech Fleet offers
• 7:03 : How was Tech Fleet founded?
• 13:09 : The progress vs. perfection mindset shift during the design process
• 17:50 : Why Tech Fleet shifted away from nonprofit status
• 20:07 : How Morgan views the “ownership” of Tech Fleet
• 23:06 : The structure of decision making at Tech Fleet
• 27:41 : Transitioning from Tech Fleet apprenticeship projects to “real world” careers
• 29:55 : Alumni who return to Tech Fleet multiple times
• 32:23 : How can people participate in Tech Fleet & shadowing opportunities
• 35:08 : How Tech Fleet keeps such a tight knit & effective community while encouraging autonomy
• 36:12 : How to get in touch with Morgan & Tech Fleet

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Tech Fleet’s Website
• Morgan Denner’s LinkedIn Profile
• Tech Fleet's Slack Community

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Debbie Levitt was once told by a former boss that she was a “Change Agent.” This moment went on to inspire a long career helping many companies tackle major challenges. A consultant and problem solver by nature, Debbie has built her business, Delta CX, to focus around helping organizations create meaningful experiences for their customers. In addition to providing consulting services to organizations, Debbie also offers coaching, training, and many other community resources through Delta CX.

Check out today’s episode to learn more about what it means to be an agent for change, how to advocate for yourself as a UX Designer, and much more.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 0:01 : Debbie’s reverse recruiting tactic to find a Change Agent role
• 3:50 : Asking the right questions during an interview to best understand the role
• 11:20 : What it means to be a Change Agent
• 19:23 : Being an advocate for yourself as a UX Designer
• 25:04 : How education is failing early career UXers and why we need more apprenticeships
• 32:00 : What Debbie looks for in her apprentices
• 35:40 : Critical soft skills for UX design
• 39:00 : A little bit more about Debbie’s book and workshop, and how to get in touch with Debbie

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Delta CX YouTube: Questions to Ask During Interviews
• Delta CX Website
• Transforming Toward Customer Centricity Workshop
• Delta CX YouTube Page
• Delta CX Community Resources
• Debbie Levitt’s Email Address
• Delta CX Coaching

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One of the original course creators for General Assembly’s UX Bootcamp in 2011, Sarah Doody has long held a passion for helping UX Designers learn the skills to grow their careers and increase their potential. Sarah is now the Founder and CEO of Career Strategy Lab, a job search accelerator and recruiting agency that helps you design your career and get hired without applying to hundreds of jobs.

In this conversation, Sarah and Nadia discuss the evolution of Career Strategy Lab, Sarah’s career pathway and founder journey, and share job search strategies and tips for designers.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 0:00 : What is Career Strategy Lab?
• 5:10 : Sarah’s background and career journey
• 7:18 : The evolution of Career Strategy Lab’s curriculum
• 10:48 : Sarah’s pricing strategy
• 16:06 : Designers as business builders & entrepreneurs
• 18:36 : Similarities and differences in job search strategies for junior and senior designers, and how to decide what job to take next
• 24:23 : Career Strategy Lab’s recruiting services
• 28:18 : How Sarah calculates and balances her time as a founder & CEO
• 30:16 : Influencers for the Career Strategy Lab business model and how they’re scaling the business
• 37:00 : How to get in touch with Sarah & Career Strategy Lab
• 44:00 : Next steps for Sarah & Career Strategy Lab

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Career Strategy Lab Website
• Sarah Doody’s Website
• Sarah’s YouTube Channel
• Sarah’s LinkedIn Profile

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Colton Schweitzer and Ludovic Delmas met as UX Designers and together surfaced a need for stronger mentorship, community, and training amongst people who wanted to transition from visual design into UX. After a lot of research, they co-founded Kickass UX, a suite of educational courses that empower Graphic, UI, and Web designers to learn UX and make a big impact.

In this conversation, learn about Colton & Ludovic’s business, their founder journeys, their backgrounds, how they’re scaling their business, and much more.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 0:20 : How Colton & Ludovic’s careers have changed since starting their business
• 5:59 : How Kickass UX went from idea to reality
• 7:30 : Colton & Ludovic’s partnership as co-founders
• 12:03 : The importance of family and friend support while founding a business
• 16:20 : Determining success within a certain timeframe
• 18:45 : What is Kickass UX?
• 20:30 : Delivering and prioritizing quality while scaling a business
• 28:00 : Why Kickass UX has a strong application process
• 31:41 : How Colton & Ludovic took Kickass UX to market
• 38:49 : How Colton & Ludovic decided upon product pricing
• 45:03 : Is there value to getting design credentials?
• 47:04 : Specializing in UX/UI vs. being a generalist
• 53:35 : Training designers to be communicators
• 56:00 : Solving the right problems in UX
• 59:30 : Where to go to learn more about Kickass UX, Colton, & Ludovic

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Kickass UX Website
• Design Buddies
• Colton Schweitzer’s LinkedIn Profile
• Ludovic Delmas’ LinkedIn Profile
• Kickass UX’s Email Address

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After being laid off from a copywriting job at a startup, Slater Katz discovered a passion for UX Writing, and taught herself the skills that would land her UX writing gigs at companies like Netflix, Fitbit, Chime, Afterpay, & more. Now, Slater is sharing her UX writing & career lessons learned through her business, The Gig Gal.

Hear about Slater’s full career journey, get insights into the UX writing world, and find out more about UX writing jobs in this interview.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 1:03 : How Slater’s business model has changed recently and how she’s built her business
• 8:43 : The shift from marketing & copywriting to UX writing
• 13:45 : The difference in approach between traditional writing and UX writing
• 16:53 : How to know if you might find success as a UX writer
• 20:00 : Working through content in UX writing workshopping sessions
• 22:30 : Skill sets & traits that enable you to work well in UX writing
• 25:26 : Where Slater found her first UX writing jobs
• 26:24 : How to get in touch with Slater

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Service Design Show: How to Put a Price on Service Design
• The Gig Gal Website
• Slater Katz’s LinkedIn Profile
• Slater Katz’s Email

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Author, Design Executive, and Consultant Peter Merholz has over 20 years of experience working in digital media and experience design. Peter and Nadia discuss how the industry has and has not changed in recent years, why organizations and design leaders should place more emphasis on growing talent from within their own organizations, and how designers can find the right opportunity at both junior and senior levels.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 1:00 : Peter’s background and how he got into the design industry
• 5:59 : The love/hate relationship with the word, “Design”
• 12:10 : How the design industry has and has not changed since 2016
• 16:14 : The shift of design from consultancies to in-house teams
• 19:53 : Overcoming career growth gaps for senior designers seeking leadership positions
• 26:08 : Why organizations should place more emphasis on growing design talent
• 29:13 : How Peter finds and assesses senior design talent
• 35:40 : Advice for new to role designers searching for the right opportunity
• 42:34 : How does Peter Merholz serve design organizations?
• 53:34 : How to get in touch with Peter & wrap up

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Book - Org Design for Design Orgs: Building and Managing In-House Teams
• UX STRAT Conference
• Book - UX Strategy: Product Strategy Techniques for Devising Innovative Digital Solutions
• Book - Orchestrating Experiences: Collaborative Design for Complexity
• Peter Merholz’s Website
• Peter Merholz’s LinkedIn Profile
• Peter Merholz’s Twitter Profile
• Transparent Recruiting: A Better Way to Hire People

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In this episode, we chat with Jared Tredly, a partner and design recruiter at Bamboo Crowd, a global recruitment and talent strategy consultancy that delivers world-class innovation talent to startups, consultancies, corporates, VC’s and scale-ups.

Jared shares more about what Bamboo Crowd does, the type of talent he is looking for, and his thoughts on how to go with the ebbs and flows of the job hunt process in today’s design market.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 1:00 : How Jared has leveraged video on social media for thought leadership
• 3:22 : What is Bamboo Crowd and how do they help companies?
• 7:54 : How Jared continues to coach designers and companies after candidate placement
• 15:45 : How to decide if now is the right time to make a job change & “stability” in the industry
• 19:32 : Deciphering different design profiles as a recruiter
• 21:45 : LinkedIn tips for your profile that will help recruiters
• 24:45 : The ebbs and flows of the recruiting process
• 29:56 : Who should connect with Jared & Bamboo Crowd?
• 33:08 : How to get in touch with Jared

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Bamboo Crowd Website
• Jared Tredly’s LinkedIn Profile
• Jared’s Email

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In this conversation, Nadia chats with Stephen Gates, a design leader in the midst of seeking out his next opportunity. Stephen shares wisdom around how to approach the job market after a layoff, knowing your value, and having confidence in negotiating the terms of your next position. Discover how to hack a broken applicant process through channeling your network, and learn which questions to ask companies to pressure test how well you can work together during your interview process.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 1:46 : Stephen’s approach to being laid off in the current job market
• 9:23 : The statistics of applying for a job vs. leveraging your network and connections
• 12:03 : How do we go about fixing a broken job application system?
• 15:34 : Stephen’s guidance on how to assess companies, teams, and managers as a job applicant during the hiring process
• 23:57 : Negotiating the terms that work best for you during layoffs and hiring
• 29:32 : Balancing side gigs with full time jobs
• 32:49 : What’s next for Stephen?
• 35:27 : How to get in touch with Stephen
• 37:35 : The level of control hiring managers actually have over the process / Closing

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Stephen Gates’ Website
• The Crazy One Podcast
• ADP List

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In Episode 11, Nadia chats with Ken Seeno, Director of Product Design at Headspace, a meditation and mindfulness app that helps you create life-changing habits to support your mental health and find a healthier, happier you.

Ken chats about Headspace’s work/life balance practices for employees and how Headspace’s culture influences their product design. Ken also shares his perspective on the hiring and onboarding process for designers looking to join Headspace’s team, as well as currently open opportunities.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 0:33 : Headspace’s awesome Friday “no meeting” day policy & work/life balance
• 7:47 : How Headspace’s culture influences the design of their products and teams
• 9:20 : What character traits and skills Ken looks for when hiring designers at Headspace
• 11:53 : The interview & onboarding process at Headspace
• 24:57 : Ken’s tips for portfolios & cover letters
• 30:48 : Open opportunities at Headspace
• 33:56 : How to get in touch with Ken & learn more about Headspace

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Headspace’s Website
• Headspace’s Careers Site
• Ken Seeno’s LinkedIn Profile

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In this episode, Nadia chats with Sasha Blanton, the Head of User Experience at Inkling, a digital learning platform that enables learning in the flow of work for mission-critical knowledge.

Hear about Inkling’s secret to a quick design hiring process, how candidates should think about approaching their interview process, and Sasha’s philosophies behind the role Design Leaders play in the professional development of their team.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 2:30 : Inkling’s secret to a speedy hiring process
• 11:09 : Pieces to consider when assessing a candidate for cultural fit
• 17:27 : The additional layers of hiring design leaders
• 22:04 : Sasha’s advice for mid-level designers looking to move into design leadership
• 25:48 : How responsible should a design leader be for the professional development of their team?
• 32:53 : How to assess your future boss during the interview process as a candidate
• 41:40 : The balance of experience, training, & background for early designers transitioning into the field

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Inkling’s Website
• Inkling’s Careers Page
• Sasha Blanton’s LinkedIn Profile

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In this episode of Design Hires, we chat with Amber KB Wilson, product designer and founder of Olivus, a mental health app that enables caregivers and family to communicate with loved ones who are experiencing mental health conditions.

Gain insights on Amber’s tips for engaging with mentors or connections around career help, learn how she built her app during a 24-hour hackathon, and discover how to embrace chaos through the use of productivity tools and brain hacks.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 2:03 : Thinking differently and keeping your mentors in mind when you design
• 4:20 : How to find good design mentors and target your mentor search
• 10:54 : The best way to engage with connections or future connections on LinkedIn when you want career help or advice
• 22:25 : Amber’s founder story: Olivus
• 27:10 : Doing a full research and product design lifecycle at a 24-hour hackathon
• 37:59 : “Embrace the hot mess”: Amber’s tips for balancing work, life, and everything in between through brain and productivity hacks
• 44:48 : How to get in touch with Amber & learn more about her startup, Olivus

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Olivus Website
• Amber KB Wilson’s LinkedIn Profile
• Olivus LinkedIn Page
• Olivus Facebook Group

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In this episode we speak with David Bacon, the Director of Design at Transpire, a consulting firm based in Melbourne, Australia that designs and builds digital experiences that transform & inspire.

Listen in as David describes what it’s like to work as a designer at Transpire and the importance of growing designers through all stages of their careers. Learn about open opportunities at Transpire and what characteristics David prioritizes when hiring designers.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 0:36 : How has the design industry changed in the past few years?
• 2:16 : David’s journey from a scientific background to a career in design
• 4:34 : What does product design look like at Transpire? How does Transpire grow it’s designers?
• 16:00 : What characteristics does David look for when hiring designers
• 20:43 : The impact of the pandemic on Transpire’s onboarding process & team culture
• 24:01 : Roles currently open at Transpire
• 30:40 : How to get in touch with David and learn more about Transpire

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Transpire’s Website
• Transpire’s Careers Page
• David Bacon’s LinkedIn Profile

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The Joanne Weaver Group is a boutique recruitment agency created to help employers find top UX/UI design talent. Join Nadia as she speaks with Joanne Weaver about the role a recruitment agency plays in aligning the best candidates with employers (hint: it’s not just passing resumes along!).

Learn about Joanne’s background and path to specializing in UX and UI Design recruitment, and whether connecting with a recruitment agency like The Joanne Weaver Group is right for you as a job seeker or as an employer.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 1:30 : Fun Fact - Joanne moonlights as a singer in a jazz trio!
• 4:53 : The impact of recent layoffs in the design industry
• 7:32 : What does a recruiter actually do & what role do they play in the hiring process?
• 11:13 : How the recruitment process starts & pricing yourself in the design market
• 14:36 : Pitching candidates to employer clients from the recruiter perspective
• 17:21 : Joanne’s background and how she started The Joanne Weaver Group
• 21:25 : How Joanne approaches mid-senior level design candidates looking to level-up their careers
• 28:22 : What questions candidates should ask recruiters who reach out to them
• 30:30 : How to get in touch with The Joanne Weaver Group to learn more
• 42:58 : Roles that Joanne is currently recruiting for

Links mentioned in this episode:

• The Joanne Weaver Group’s Website
• Joanne Weaver’s LinkedIn Profile
• Joanne Weaver’s Email

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Nadia and Steven Steiner of Career Coach for Designers chat about what it means to be a career coach. Listen in to understand the value of having a career coach on the journey to achieving your own unique career goals in design.

Steven provides insights on the importance of connecting your career goals with your “superpowers” and identifying what motivates you. We also discuss how to share your career story as a designer and share tangible tips to help shape resources like your resume and portfolio.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 2:28 : Steven’s “Batman Moment” - how he decided to become a career coach for designers
• 7:10 : Feeling valued and successful as a designer & “imposter syndrome”
• 9:38 : Finding your design superpowers - what is your niche as a designer?
• 15:35 : Identifying what motivates your career priorities
• 18:14 : Building your career story as a designer
• 28:03 : The role of a career coach & how to know if working with a career coach is right for you
• 34:04 : Finding the right career coach for you
• 38:17 : How to connect with Steven

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Career Coach for Designers Website
• Steven Steiner’s LinkedIn Profile
• Career Coach for Designers LinkedIn Page

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Join us as we chat with Rodolfo Ferro Casagrande, the Head of Design at Helcim, a payments company that lets businesses accept credit cards with ease.

In this episode, we discuss open opportunities at Helcim, the recruitment life cycle for a Helcim applicant, as well as portfolio building tips for new designers. Learn about Helcim’s “Bottom Up” hiring strategy and how they are thinking about structuring their team and work strategy to achieve their design goals.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 0:27 : Rodolfo’s background & career path
• 2:37 : Reasons to consider joining Helcim’s design team
• 5:56 : Importance of having front end development on a design team
• 8:09 : Helcim’s “Bottom Up” hiring strategy
• 13:45 : Tips for how to structure your design portfolio
• 16:42 : Helcim’s interview process
• 22:33 : Current openings at Helcim & how to apply
• 25:26 : Scaling the design process at Helcim & “failing forward”

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Helcim's Website
• Helcim’s Careers Page
• Rodolfo Ferro Casagrande’s LinkedIn Profile

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In this episode, we talk to Claudia Natasia and Kerstin Huang, two senior design team members from Highspot, a sales enablement platform based in Seattle, WA.

Learn about the UX research team, the recruitment process, and open opportunities at Highspot, as well as Claudia and Kerstin’s career paths. We also discuss team structure and management styles.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 0:39 : Questions to consider during the recruitment process to assess true company value & risk factors when switching jobs
• 6:09 : Why you should consider working for Highspot & how the UX research team is structured
• 16:28 : Roles currently open at Highspot and what skills they’re looking for
• 19:26 : How Highspot has grown over the past few years, and Kerstin’s career path
• 23:32 : What does the interview process look like at Highspot?
• 29:32 : Job hunting tips for people just starting out in the UX research field
• 32:40 : Favorite UX interview questions & wrap up

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Highspot’s Careers Website
• Claudia Natasia’s LinkedIn Profile
• Kerstin Huang’s LinkedIn Profile

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As a first generation American, Amy Lima has always searched for communities to be a part of. From her career in the music industry to being one of 1,000 applicants to be offered a design apprenticeship with Pintrest, this desire for community, a love of learning, and a little bit of luck have all shaped her journey as a Product Designer.

In this episode, Amy and Nadia discuss this journey, as well as Amy’s latest project, Diversify Design - a collective that connects BIPOC designers with companies who are hiring design talent.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 0:42 : Amy’s experience as the sole Product Design apprentice at Pintrest
• 6:12 : The importance of seeking out community as a first generation American
• 9:47 : Pivoting from the music industry to a career as a Product Designer
• 16:53 : How to take your career journey to the next level after completing a bootcamp
• 25:33 : Injecting diversity into the design community to gain fresh perspectives and create opportunities
• 38:48 : How to get involved with Amy and Diversify Design

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Pintrest Apprenticeship & Development Programs
• Diversify Design Collective
• Amy Lima’s LinkedIn Profile

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Interviewing for Product Design roles can be challenging and stressful for both the interviewee AND the interviewer. As a candidate, one of the most important assets in your interview toolkit is the ability to tell a good story. And as an interviewer, knowing how to redirect interview questions in a way that truly probes candidates for the right skills can save a lot of time and company resources.

In this episode, Tanner and Nadia discuss how to prepare for Product Design interviews in a way that enables candidates to tell compelling stories and truly show their knowledge and experience - no BS necessary.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 0:33 - Tanner’s latest project: Shape.co, a tool that helps designers and hiring managers learn to interview well
• 3:52 - Creating a great hiring rubric to assess design talent
• 8:13 - Why experiential questions & storytelling matters the most during the design interview process
• 13:03 - The importance of asking questions to understand what interviewers are looking for as a preparation tactic
• 20:46 - How hiring managers can redirect questions to get the information they need from interview candidates
• 24:27 - Keeping up with your design portfolio outside of the interview process
• 26:47 - When to stop interviewing
• 30:41 - Asking questions during an interview to gain information about company culture
• 42:26 - When & how to give candidates feedback on their interview
• 47:21 - How to learn more about Tanner and connect with him

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Shape.co
• TannerChristensen.com
• Tanner Christensen’s LinkedIn Profile

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Despite what many Bootcamp programs insinuate up front, making a career switch to UX Design isn’t always as simple as it may seem. Many companies simply do not have the capacity to develop design talent, and often require years of technical experience for entry-level roles to get around the need to take time to train employees who may be new to the field.

When design positions are hired for at a more advanced level than necessary, and on-the-job training is neglected, burnout can filter up the chain to mid and senior level roles where employees would also like to advance their skills and careers.

In this episode, Jared and Nadia talk about how to structure hiring plans, talent pipelines, teams, and strategy so that organizations can bring employees in at the right level and grow with the organization, rather than against it.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 1:07 - Setting up a talent pipeline with mentorship opportunities to create room for growth
• 7:31 - How to assess junior talent for growth potential
• 14:04 - Using the “achiever pattern” to gauge designer experience rather than years on the job
• 21:58 - Understanding the importance of retention rates over time as it relates to developing junior designers and creating a growth pipeline
• 33:44 - Designing a workplace where learning on the job is intentional, not accidental
• 43:27 - Jared’s new program, How to Win Stakeholders and Influence Decisions, and other projects

Links mentioned in this episode:

• The UX Strategy of Hiring Juniors Over Seniors
• WinStakeholders.com
• Jared Spool’s Twitter Account
• Jared Spool’s LinkedIn Account
• Leaders of Awesomeness
• UX Centered Careers
• Center Centre